Allo' from Monterey, CA

[acc]

Hello my friends from SingAstro
Been a while since I posted here. Have been busy settling down in Monterey California ever since arriving in Sept. Will be here till Mar 06' for work-related reasons. So sore that I can't take part in the Singastro Fest in December... :x

Didn't bring my scopes with me but inevitably, astro fever caught up with me again. Ventured to Astromart and bought a second err.. third-hand Nexstar 5 for all of US$600. The mount is solid and the optics good, and have enjoyed a few short sessions of star-gazing right outside my house. Monterey is a small seaside town 3 hours drive from San Francisco and when the sky is clear (1-3 nights a week), the milky way is easily visible though of course its nothing like the view from good-old Mersing. And missing the Southern sky jewels too. But the night air here is cold and crisp and a refreshing change from humid Singapore. And its so nice to come out of the house with a hot cup of coffee and be able to enjoy the clear dark skies.

If any of you happen to be in California, do swing by Monterey for a chat and some sightseeing. Anyway, all the best to the SingAstro fest organisers; it seems this event is going to be the best and biggest astro fest in Sg ever!

cheers and clear skies!
Chee Chien

[Airconvent]

Hi CC,
If you are really that itchy to join SF2004, we are just an air ticket away...
you can always fly by ValueAir ot Tiger Air. Just remember to bring your own buns and toilet paper....
Anyway, you bought a Nexstar??? Aren't you supposed to be a devoted DUAL fork arm guy?? And by US standards, isn't a 3rd hand N5 at US$600 a little too ex? I thought in US these stuff would be dirt cheap....like everything under $1.99 ??
Next time, consult me, ok? Shame on you. You should be buying a Nexstar 8...then bring it back and sell to me! Any intention to bring the scope bakc or are you dumping it before you come back?

Anyway, we are missing our CSN guy very badly .....lucky (or unlucky) the sky has been the pits the past few weeks... do come back and join us soon.
In the meantime, just to check there is such a thing as internet connection over there, right? so looking forward to you being in here more often!

enjoy yourself but not too much...remember, its tax payer's money keeping you on "holiday" there!! heh heh

[acc]

No la, I dont like the N8 as the OTA is oversized for its mount and therefore too jittery for my liking. The N5 in contrast has a good OTA-mount match. Its way better built than a Meade ETX. Only issue is that the Nexstar controller is really 'dumb' and rudimentary compared to the Autostar. Have not decided if I will bring the scope back with me. I already have 2 mistresses sulking in Sg. US600 is about the standard price for N5. Includes shipping, new heavy-duty tripod, dew shield and collimation knobs.

Don't worry about the tax payer's money part; I am now working long hours every day.

clear skies!

[Airconvent]

Don't worry about the tax payer's money part; I am now working long hours every day.
clear skies!

working to grind the mirror, ah?